Ireland's sailing, boating & maritime magazine

Today, Minister Noel Dempsey TD announced that the 4th joint Republic of Ireland/Northern Ireland Coast Guard Search and Rescue Competition will take place from 8-10 May 2009 in Ballybunion Co. Kerry. This 3 day event will feature teams from the…

Sunshine and light winds greeted the competitors at the Northern Championship in Carrickfergus on Saturday. After an over eager start by most competitors in the first start the race got under way following a Black flag. Local Boat Bullet (T…

Sharp detail, split-screen functionality and user-friendly menus are just a few of the features of two new combined chart plotter/fish finders from Standard Horizon. The CPF180i, and the widescreen CPF300i LCD screens provide sharp, full colour images that are viewable…

All our counties have one thing in common - they touch lake, river or sea. But these waterways also suffer a shared neglect. We live on an island, but the national focus is firmly on the land. For maritime communities…

Lyneen Bridge, Co Longford, the last bridge to be restored under the programme of work on the Royal Canal has been completed and the road reopened on the 28th April 2009. The programme of work costing approximately €2.3m, has involved…

UK-based Map My Tracks is making GPS tracking accessible to sports events of all sizes, thanks to its new events management system and price plan. Competitors just need a compatible GPS-enabled mobile phone with the MMT Tracker installed to track…

Afloat's May Editorial emphasises the importance of this month's Volvo Race in Galway. We're heading in the right direction and exploiting our most valuable resource – our coastline. The magazine hits the newsstands this week.

Spectators going afloat to watch the Volvo Ocean Race (VOR) will be charged to launch their boat in Galway by the club that controls the only slipway. Galway Bay Sailing Club is to charge 60 Euro per week for launching…

Imagine sailing off into the sunset with your spouse to spend five years on board a tiny yacht, hundreds, often thousands, of miles from civilisation. While the prospect is undoubtedly a thrilling one, married couples might just be excused for…

In a year that sees the Irish Sailing Association (ISA) publishing boating advice for local authorities, another county council has taken the step to ban recreational craft from its beaches. Fifteen councils have now published bye-laws restricting access to their…

Details have been annouced of the forthcoming Lee Overlay Partners Ltd and Royal Alfred YC Offshore Series 2009. The first race of the series is this Saturday May 9. There will be a briefing at 8.30am at Dun Laoghaire Marina.

Ten year old Grange Park Primary schoolboy, Noah McWatters, will be the youngest competitor in the Hamilton Shipping Sigma 33 Irish and Open Championships hosted by Royal Ulster Yacht Club in early June and sailed in Belfast Lough.

Belfast Coastguard have been co-ordinating the rescue this afternoon of four people in the water after their two canoes were swamped. The unfolding incident was reported to the marine emergency service by one of thecanoeists.The incident, at just before 1.00…

Ellen MacArthur's Round Britain Voyage of Discovery began off of the Royal Yacht Squadron, Cowes, today. The Voyage mirrors Ellen MacArthur's first solo round Britain voyage in her 21ft yacht, Iduna in 1995. Starting from Cowes on 3rd May, 85…

Lough Derg RNLI Lifeboat requested to launch following a report of a vessel adrift in heavy weather at Parker's Point at the South-Eastern end of Lough Derg. The lifeboat launched following a request from Valentia Coast Guard to go the…

Mr Tony Killeen TD, Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food with special responsibility for forestry, fisheries and the marine, has announced the establishment of an Inter-Departmental Marine Coordinating Group. The new group’s remit is to…

Gill has launched a new women’s version of their versatile and popular Coast-Sport Jacket, with also a new colour for the men’s version. Made from a supple 3-Dot fabric, the jacket is ideal for multiple use afloat, says Shane Murphy…

TUE + SAT  SERIES 1 02/05/2009   17 Footer  SCRATCH:  1, Oona P Courtney;  2, Isobel B & C Turvey;  3, Aura I Malcolm;  17 Footer  HCAP:  1, Bobolink Walsh/Doyle;  2, Isobel B & C Turvey;  3, Oona P Courtney SATURDAY…

In a race brought forward by one an hour to facilitate sailors attending the now infamous rugby clash between Leinster and Munster, it was Derek Martin's Lovely Lady of the Royal Irish YC first home in Cruisers Zero from Vincent…

Lough Derg RNLI Lifeboat launched this afternoon following a report of two vessels aground at Goat Road at the North Eastern end of Lough Derg. The crew launched following a request from Valentia Coast Guard to go the assistance of…